Dear Ms. Boyens,

This is my second letter on Japanese subtitles for your film "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring".
I sent you a letter in September and you kindly replied to me. My fellow members of the movement for better and proper subtitles on FotR are much encouraged by your letter. Let me thank you again on behalf of them.

Today, I report to you about the subtitles in DVD/VHS released in Japan on September 21st . I'm sorry it has taken so long. The reason is that the members have not reached an agreement on the evaluation.

We did find that some of the errors in subtitles were revised, but opinions differ among the fans, from "acceptable as a whole" to "absolutely unforgivable". At least, "The Most Serious Errors" which I sent you the list of, were all repaired except for these two lines :

＞The Departure of Boromir (chapter 38)
Aragorn：
[script] I let Frodo go.
[subtitle] He has left.
Boromir：
[script] Then you did what I could not.
[subtitle] I am ashamed.

That is, Boromir is not a liar, and there is not "the Creator of life" anymore. But in my opinion, there still remain too many bad translations and unsuitable words for the scene in the subtitles in DVD/VHS. I think they are far from satisfactory, not at all what your FotR deserves, though I admit that they are better than the theater version.

I have picked up some of the remaining errors to show you, and with the help of translators have made "A List of Mistranslations in DVD/VHS", inadequate as it is. It is attached at the end of this letter.

And now, I have another bad news to tell you: your current trailer for "The Two Towers" on the Japanese official website released on October 18th, to our great dismay, is marred by the Japanese subtitles AGAIN. TheOneRing.net took up this news and I enclose a copy of the article in this letter with the list. Maybe you know it already?

My friends and I are very anxious about subtitles in the coming film "The Two Towers".
Now we are preparing another petition to ask for good and proper subtitles for TTT and RotK.
In the notice on their official site Nippon Herald said that for TTT Ms. Akiko Tanaka (one of the two people who translated the original books into Japanese) and Hyoron-sha(the publisher) would help the subtitler.
But to be frank with you, I cannot trust to their word, because there is no guarantee of authority over the subtitler. However useful counsel they may give, it would be no use as the subtitler may not accept it (we have good reasons to fear that is very likely to be the case).
I wish you could come over to supervise the making of subtitles, with a good interpreter whose knowledge in Japanese language and whose judgement you can trust. I know it is too much to ask, of course.
Still we believe −or sincerely hope− that your interest in this matter can bring a big change, if I may say so.

We are looking forward to seeing your TTT (now all the more for the trailer and the supplements in DVD. I was nearly brought to tears when I found YOU in DVD!)

Sincerely yours,

＃＃＃＃＃

Mistranslations of Japanese Subtitles in DVD/VHS

＞Keep It Secret, Keep It Safe (chapter 6)
Gandalf：
[script] There are some things that I must see to.
[subtitle] I have my business.
Frodo：
[script] What things?
[subtitle] What business?
Gandalf：
[script] Questions. Questions that need answering.
[subtitle] Many things. I have to finish them.


＞The Shadow of the Past (chapter 8)
Gandalf：
[script] But through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine.
[subtitle] But its power is too terrible to imagine.


＞The Council of Elrond (chapter 23)
Gandalf：
[script] I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins. As long as it is yours to bear.
[subtitle] I will share the burden. I will be watching you.


＞The Council of Elrond (chapter 23)
Boromir：
[script] Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king.
[subtitle] A king for Gondor? We do not need one.


＞The Council of Elrond (chapter 23)
Boromir：
[script] If this is indeed the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done.
[subtitle] If this is the decision of the council, Gondor will obey it.


＞A Journey in the Dark (chapter 28), The Road Goes Ever On...(chapter 39)
Gandalf：
[script] So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you.
[subtitle] Everyone feels that way when he's having a hard time. But you can't change it. So you'd better think what you should do at the moment.
comment：＊＊[Subtitle in theater version] Everyone feels that way when he's having a hard time. It is too late to regret. So you'd better think what you should do at the moment.
The error of "It is too rate to regret." was revised, but "a hard time" still remains.


＞Parth Galen (chapter 36)
Frodo：
[script] I know what you would say, and it would seem like wisdom, but for the warning in my heart.
[subtitle] Your words sound kind, but they mean warning to me.


＞Parth Galen (chapter 36)
Boromir：
[script] We're all afraid, Frodo, but to let that fear drive us to destroy what hope we have. Don't you see, it's madness.
[subtitle] We're all afraid, but if we are overcome by fear, all will be lost. Don't forget it.


＞Parth Galen (chapter 36)
Frodo：
[script] It has taken Boromir.
[subtitle] Boromir....

＃＃＃＃＃＃
１．原作翻訳者が協力するとの日本ヘラルドの告知
[ハーブ409]
>In the notice on their official site Nippon Herald said that for TTT Ms. Akiko Tanaka (one of the two people who translated the original books into Japanese) and Hyoron-sha(the publisher) would help the subtitler.

[Telperion410]
>On the above-mentioned site Nippon Herald Films Inc. said that for TTT Ms. Akiko Tanaka (one of the two Japanese translators of the original books) and Hyoron-sha (the publisher) would collaborate with the subtitler.

２．ボウエンズさんが字幕製作を監督してくれたらいいのに
[白い都原案400]
>I wish you or your agent who is good at Japanese to watch the making of subtitles.

[ハーブ408]
>I wish you could come over to supervise the making of subtitles, with a good interpreter whose knowledge in Japanese language and whose judgement you can trust.

[Telperion410]
>さすがにボウエンズさん自ら字幕の品質管理に出馬することはないでしょうから、"your agent"だけでいいような気がしますね。しかし代理人に当たる言葉はagent、representative、delegateなどといろいろあるので迷います。資質については「有能な」とだけ形容するのもいいかも

３．誤訳リスト「こんな時代」のコメント
［白い都原案393]
>comment：＊＊[Subtitle in theater version] Everyone feels that way when he's having a hard time. It is too late to regret. So you'd better think what you should do at the moment.

[ハーブ396]
>comment：として、いきなり[Subtitle in theater virsion]と来ると見て奇異なので

▼関連発言
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